Mike Norvell plans to make necessary adjustments to his Florida State football team as the program enters a bye week on the back of a dramatic double-overtime 43-35 loss to No. 1 Miami.
While the Seminoles (3-4, 1-3 ACC) head coach is still frustrated by a holding call he called an "absolute joke" and a near-Hail Mary being ruled an interception on the final two plays against Miami, Norvell said the bye week allows his coaching staff to evaluate personnel packages and strategy.
"The attitude and expectation for what this team is going to do here as we move forward, building off some of the good, correcting the bad that showed up to this point of the season. We're going to utilize this bye week to make some adjustments that I think are necessary when it comes to our personnel and the positions we put guys in. We have some guys in some positions that are really thin just due to injury. But you know, excited about some opportunities for some younger players that get to emerge."
Those adjustments will come before the Seminoles next return to the field against Clemson on Halloween, a 7 p.m. kickoff on ACC Network. One major area for the coaching staff to solve during the off week?
The running back room.
The Seminoles lost Ousmane Kromah to an ankle injury against the Hurricanes, and he'll miss the rest of the season. Samuel Singleton Jr. was hurt against Alabama, and Norvell said he won't be available in the near future. So it leaves Tre Wisner, Amari Thomas, and Zay Parks as the active running backs, with the latter two receiving minimal reps this season.
Wisner stepped into the primary role against the Hurricanes and posted 63 rushing yards on nine carries, while adding 56 receiving yards and a touchdown, with one fumble.
"I've got the utmost confidence that Tre will take on even more of a role than he has. He's shown the last couple weeks. getting opportunities that he can bring a lot to the table," FSU offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr. said.
"Now Amari is gonna get his opportunity. Zay has been a guy that's been here for a few years, working hard, has done a really good job. ... All these guys are here waiting for an opportunity to play, and unfortunately, sometimes it takes injuries for them to get them. But I'm really excited to watch these guys run with it."
Elsewhere, defensive evaluations will be critical.
The Seminoles defense has been marred by misalignments and execution issues, paired with an injury bug, and it's an area that needs to be fixed if the program wants to best position itself for a bowl game. Both Norvell and defensive coordinator Tony White pointed to self-inflicted moments, and White said he will evaluate his play calling so he can best set his unit up for success.
"We've got to eliminate the self-inflicted. We've got to make sure that we have adjustments in personnel. Maybe guys are having to play a different position, that we're putting those guys in the best position," Norvell said. "That's a big reflection for us this week. You work week to week, but then also make sure that if there are adjustments, more big-picture-wise, that it's tied to the strengths of our guys."
Florida State football schedule 2026
(Current Record 3-4, 1-3 ACC)
vs. New Mexico State | 34-17 W
vs. SMU* | 27-24 L
Bye
at Alabama | 50-36 L
vs. Central Arkansas | 34-7 W
vs. Virginia* | 38-7 W
at Louisville* | 44-20
at Miami* | 43-35 L 2OT
Bye
vs. Clemson* | Oct. 31
at Boston College* | Nov. 7
at Pittsburgh* | Nov. 13
vs. NC State* | Nov. 21
vs. Florida | Nov. 27
Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football changes coming: Mike Norvell reveals bye-week priorities